GET FAMILIAR: Humble

Humble is one of the most universally respected emcees in the state; a true school disciple of Hip Hop and an upstanding citizen, too. When I got the chance to do a proper interview, I aimed to make the most of it and he was generous enough to accommodate that. What follows is a deep dive into both his work and his perspective.

VTHH: I've always thought of you as an integral, bedrock part of the 802 scene -- just here, like the mountains. But how did you actually wind up in the Vermont hip hop scene? What was your introduction to it like?

Humble: Word. I moved here in 99/2000. I had been rapping a little bit before then but mostly just kidding around with my homies. I was a drummer before that but didn’t have room for my kit or really other musicians to play with. This got me into sampling and production as well as emceeing for real. When I got here, there was a spot called Liquid Energy on Church St. There was a cypher there every Thursday night If I recall correctly. The shit was serious, you had to come correct with bars if you wanted to rap as well as confidence in your voice and approach.

I was honestly shocked how serious people were up here about rapping. After that spot closed suddenly I helped organize a cypher at Hectors every Wednesday. This is where I really cut my teeth and met inspiring local emcees. Most notably Travis Card and Forest. Their ability to freestyle, especially at that time, pushed me to get better and better. I also linked with 2nd Agenda at the time which taught me the power of live performance. Shout out to Source Unknown, The Loyalists, Dark Cloud, The Aztext, and especially Eye Oh You for the early VT inspiration.

VTHH: Is it safe to say that Reggae culture had just as much of an impact & influence on you as Hip Hop culture?

Humble: Yes. I came up going to venues like the West Indian Social Club in Hartford CT, Elite Ark in Brooklyn and Amazura in Queens. Heavy clubs that mostly only people from the Caribbean went to. It was a culture shock at first but I was readily embraced by most of the community. If you show respect and love for the music and know how to navigate unknown waters you can find new place and perspective. I always remember a quote written on an old record shop in New Haven, “make love and not war, cause war is ugly and love is lovely” a U-Roy quote I believe.

VTHH: When did you get your start freestyling? Do you have any advice for cats trying to improve, or is it mostly a matter of natural talent?

Humble: I started freestyling when I started rapping in around 99/2000. I didn’t actually write any rhymes until the mid 2000’s. To me the flow is the most important element of emceeing, outside of tone of voice then lyrics. I would flow to everything from 80’s dancehall beats to jungle beats to Havoc and Alchemist beats.

When I first started freestyling, I could get to a certain point without breaking the flow and got frustrated that I couldn’t go further. I just kept flowing until the dams and blockages in the river were washed away. The biggest thing that helped the movement of water is knowing the source. Connecting to the emotion or sentiment that grounds you in where your energy wells up. The other aspect is community and having people to cypher with. Once you tap in with a good circle of people it becomes group therapy and the possibilities become endless. At least lyrically.

VTHH: Who do you consider your influences, as an emcee?

Humble: Wu Tang, especially Ghostface, INS and Rza. Nas, Prodigy, Cormega, Sizzla, Josey Wales, Tenor Saw, Buju Banton, Crayz Walz, Chuck D, Elliot Smith, Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, Big L, Big Pun, Tupac and many others.

VTHH: When you dropped Premonition, I was extremely impressed, that was such a well-rounded album. Was that an intentional LP project you had a vision for, or did that evolve as more of an audio journal of where you were at then?

Humble: I would say it lands somewhere in between the two. I was very focused on writing thematic material. The first album was all produced by Dave Mitchell, on the second round I wanted to feature all my favorite producers that I had personally linked with at the time. Actually having a relationship in real time is important to me, I’m not too involved in virtual reality.

I was inspired by the beats and beat makers who allowed me to have a clear window into myself. I wanted to keep the album topical as well as internal. I had a lot of ideas for concepts in my head kind of pour over. I guess in that way it is a personal journal, shout out to Sage Francis. Haha

VTHH: How was your creation process different for your latest album Good Company?

Humble: For me writing is all about catching a vibe. The beats inspire the landscape that the song creates. Mike (THEN WHAt) has been a long time friend and collaborator going back to the Bless The Child days. He is one of the producers that I know will provide the right inspiration.

I have learned to trust my instinct and go with the first rhymes, cadences or melodies that I hear. Meaning the first time I listen to the beat I utilize my initial thoughts. In following this process I got all of the beats on the album ahead of time but only listened to them one at a time. It took 3 or so listens to the beat to craft the song. I never skipped ahead or wrote when I wasn’t in the right space. It was a very different process than my other albums, but I am proud of how it turned out.

VTHH: How long did it take you to write "I am America" ? What kind of headspace where you in while you were crafting that?

Humble: It took about a week on and off to flesh it out. That song is my heart. I really focused, researched and fact checked myself on that one. It is highly inspired by the words of John Trudell and Marcus Garvey, as well as the treatment of people crossing the southern boarder. I wanted to highlight the contradiction of turmoil and harmony that marks our past and present. Genocide, slavery and oppression amidst life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. America means different things to different people. This is what ideally gives us strength in the real sense. Like the bundle of arrows in the eagles talons.

VTHH: Another song I'd love to ask you about is "Ancestral Burial Verse." That always seemed like a transmission from beyond, to me. Did that all come to you at once or did that take some time to carve out?

Humble: Oh boy. I had to go back and and listen to that one. That’s an instant download for sure...

The song is all about connecting the dots through past trauma and related influences there of. Everything I write about is from me, whether it be my own experience or that of someone close to me. Bridging the gap between the I and the other. For the lost loved ones and how we navigate with the burden of their passing. How we keep afloat and hope to inspire others to do so the same. This is why I love and am indebted to Hip Hop. The feeling you catch from an emcee that you know but can’t quite articulate. And it lets you feel less alone in the universe.

VTHH: How did the Old Gold connection come to be? He's one of the best producers in the state, to my ears.

Humble: We met through the homie Loupo. I went to his crib once we really connected and started to mash out the project. Being in the same room and co-creating a vibration is key. I can’t stress this enough. A lot of material on that project is from initial freestyles to beats. Some verse poetry over incredible beatscapes. The rainfall tune is the first one like that when we initially kicked it and hadn’t rained in many months. He is a good brother that I stay connected with.

VTHH: Do you think there will ever be another Bless The Child project?

Humble: Time will tell.

VTHH: Looking back, what are some of your favorite shows you've done?

Humble: Opening up for Gza and Masta Killah with 2nd Agenda was dope. I am a Wu fanatic so that was awesome. We did a couple shows with A Tribe Called Red, which were super powerful. The vibration that we built as BTC was undeniable. Every show would start slow and by the end everybody present was part of the energetic exchange. I think those dudes could really feel that.

The livest show though for me was opening up for People Under the Stairs during a full moon masquerade party at Arts Riot. That was with Agent Slacker, which was Tommy Alexander, Loupo and myself. It was one of the only times we performed the project and shit was popping off. The crowd was hyped and packed all night. People killed it, one of the best Hip Hop shows I ever have seen, let alone been a part of.

VTHH: As someone who's seen a lot of cyphers come and go -- and a farmer, too -- what advice do you have for artists trying to grow a community around them?

Humble: Showing up. That’s the most important thing, as well as good communication. Having common goals in mind from the outset is key just like any relationship. That takes time and space to grow. Laughing together and having fun is powerful medicine. Keeping it focused is the balance.